This week’s TV: Scrubs and Nip/Tuck return and other shows to watch

It’s winter season premiere week and the TV goodies just keep coming. It seems most of them are scheduled for Tuesday night, so those of you without a DVR, you have my sympathy.

Tonight, one of television’s best comedies returns, but this time it’s airing on a network that actually seems to care about the show. At least it's getting plenty of promotion for the first time ever. Yes, I’m talking about Scrubs. (Oh, how I've missed you!) It moves to ABC and premieres at 9 p.m. ET, with Courteney Cox Arquette joining the cast. Please tune in and watch. Call me petty, but I'd like NBC to have serious ratings envy. (Yes, I'm still bitter about the shabby treatment Scrubs and Las Vegas received at the hands of NBC.)

For those of you anxiously awaiting the return of Nip/Tuck to see how Sean and Christian survived crazy teddy-bear lady’s attacks, the wait is over. The show premieres at 10 p.m. ET tonight on FX. I’ve seen the screener, but I don’t want to spoil you. So, tune in and check it out for yourself.

Also tonight, Privileged is back with a new episode on the CW at 9 p.m . (Yay!) I’ve seen the show and let’s just say that Megan has her hands full with her mother, sister, and a romantic plot from Rose, in which she tries to get Sage and Luis together.

If that isn’t enough for you TV junkies, then don’t despair. One of my favorite new shows, The Mentalist, is back at 9 p.m. ET on CBS with a new episode. Patrick tries to find the killer who murdered his family.

See what I mean about Tuesday? It’s crazy.

As for the rest of the week, it’s not any lighter. On Thursday, 30 Rock, My Name is Earl on NBC, while Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Ugly Betty all debut new episodes on ABC. Then on Friday, Psych and Monk return on USA.

Finally, adrenaline junkies, your show, 24, is back on Sunday on FOX. Get ready for a change of scenery though, as the first hour takes place in Washington D.C.

And if you enjoy awards shows, don’t miss The Golden Globe Awards at 8 p.m. ET on NBC this Sunday. Here’s the list of nominees, for those of you who missed it the first time.

For a complete list of winter premiere dates, click here.

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Let’s talk TV: The week in review

Friday Night Lights
Tyra, your body is a wonderland. (And no that isn’t a dig at her cast mate Minka Kelly, who is dating John Mayer.) Tyra is hot. It’s no wonder poor Landry is in love with her. I don’t know how Tim Riggins has managed to resist her lately. Speaking of resisting, QB1, also known as Matt Saracen, has so many hot ladies throwing themselves at him; it’s sending his stuttering into overdrive. Julie realized that she shouldn’t have ended things with Matt and seems to be getting a little too cozy with her teacher lately. I don’t like where this is headed. Watch your back, teach, because if Eric finds you hitting on his daughter, you may find yourself being used as a tackling dummy during the next football practice. And how about the entertainment for the Pantherama rally? Having the football team strip was definitely thinking outside of the box. In my high school, everyone would have been expelled for that sexy stunt. But, this is Dillon, where football rules and apparently teachers and parents don’t mind the kids half naked and gyrating on the gym floor.

Dirty Sexy Money
I’m really enjoying the dysfunctional Darling family, especially serial bride Karen. The poor gal can’t seem to get over her first love Nick George and is set on winning him back. Mrs. George, you have been warned. The most surprising twist of this show for me is that I actually like former hard-ass Rev. Brian. The storyline with his son has softened him. OK, sure he made the kid pretend he was an orphan who didn’t speak English, so that Brian’s wife wouldn’t find out that he had an illegitimate son, but in the end, he came clean. He's even missing the little tyke. And so am I.

Private Practice
It’s been weeks since I invested in Private Practice. And much like the stock market, my sentiments about this show go up and down. This week, I hit an all-time low. Addison’s new dating companion had a strange fetish: he liked to insert objects in his rectum. Let’s just say I hope she never gets that shoe back. I don’t care if it is a Jimmy Choo. I’m trying to love Private Practice; I really am. But Addison is so… what’s the word? Silly. Yes, I never thought I’d describe my Addison as silly, but that’s what she’s become. And the rest of her co-workers are just as bad. The bright spot is that she and Pete have chemistry. Perhaps she’ll stop acting like a teen soon. The one character I am interested in, Dell, never seems to have much to do but fetch coffee. How about giving him a storyline? I think I may have to handle Private Practice the same way I handle broccoli. I partake from time to time, even though I don’t like it.

Ugly Betty
Just like the sun, Ugly Betty is the one show I can count on to be reliable. (Friday Night Lights is the other.) Betty never disappoints. It’s silly fun, and unlike Private Practice, the silly works. The show somehow balances comedy and drama perfectly. Eric Mabius has made me weepy several times. When Daniel Meade gets serious, look out. This week when he mourned his father, I was reaching for the Kleenex. His idea to black out the cover of Mode in honor of this father’s death was brilliant. In contrast, Amanda’s quest to find her father makes me laugh hard, every time she goes to the wall of photos of all her mother’s lovers. This week I caught Tom Selleck’s mug, Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger and Burt Reynolds. That Faye Summers sure got around, didn’t she?

Heroes
Not even the addition of my own personal TV hero, Kristen Bell, to the Heroes cast has rekindled my love for this show. I’m sad, Tubers, as I used to love it. I’ve tried hanging on, but the show simply doesn’t interest me anymore. There are too many characters, story arcs, and too little time with the characters I do care about. It pains me more than you know to remove a show starring Kristen Bell from my DVR lineup, but when it feels like an obligation to watch it each week, then it’s time to go.

Las Vegas
There was no new episode this week, which was a good thing since we never talked about the last episode. Cooper fired Sam! I don’t think I’m alone here when I say, “What?!?!!” OK, so she shouldn’t have dumped that milkshake over the cowboy’s head, but in her defense, the guy was a tool. But this is Sam. She’s my favorite character on the show. I usually have to rewind her rapid-fire witty dialogue a couple times, so I can enjoy and appreciate her sarcastic barbs. There is no Las Vegas without her. The new boss man had better come to his senses soon because I want her back at the Montecito hanging with Mr. Cooper.

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Writers' strike update

I realize that it seems all I’ve been blogging about lately is the TV writers’ strike. But, there is so much going on with this story that I’m trying my best to keep you informed. Here’s a look at strike news from around the Web.

The strike could go on until 2008. (Variety)

Former Disney head Michael Eisner calls the writers’ strike stupid. (Reuters)

Shonda Rhimes is refusing to help wrap up episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice that are already in the works. (Variety)

Lost could be postponed until 2009. (TV Guide)

Steve Carell of The Office didn’t show up for work and some of his cast mates followed his lead. (AOL)

Strikers hassled Eva Longoria, but she rewarded them with pizza. (TV Guide)

Two and a Half Men and other sitcoms shut down production. (TV Guide)

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Private Practice gets full season

ABC has ordered a full season of Private Practice, according to E!Online. That means Addison, Pete and the gang are probably here to stay. (Sorry to all of you Grey’s Anatomy fans that were hoping Addison would end up back at Seattle Grace soon.)

Private Practice has been doing fairly well in the ratings. Last night’s show averaged about 12 million viewers.

Private Practice is the second new show of the fall to get a full season order. Gossip Girl on the CW was the first.

E!Online is also reporting that CBS is giving a full order to The Big Bang Theory, too. Really? The Big Bang Theory? Wow. I didn’t see that one coming.

Are you enjoying Private Practice? Do you like Addison’s new life? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Let’s talk TV! The Week in Review

Best line of the week
Barney from How I Met Your Mother wins this week for this gem:
(Robin explained that she hadn’t shaved her legs in days so she wouldn’t go too far on the first date.)
Barney: “FYI baby, guys just want to get on the green. They don’t mind going through the rough.”

Journeyman
Why does the Journeyman only have one sweater? It’s a nice one, sure, very GQ-esque, but still. He needs to change it up a bit.

Pushing Daisies
The facts were these. Kristin Chenowith stole my heart in Pushing Daisies when she portrayed her heartbreak via song. She channeled Olivia Newton John in her rendition of Hopelessly Devoted to You, complete with Digby the dog’s masterful accompaniment. I know we’re supposed to root for Ned and Chuck, but Olive deserves some love, too. This could be primetime’s best love triangle since Sawyer, Kate and Jack. Not often does a television show with a perfect pilot live up to it in the next episode, but Pushing Daisies did. I hope we get to see more of Olive singing, more of Emerson knitting, and more of Ned being, well, Ned.

Las Vegas
I can’t believe it, but it seems we’re getting deeper character development on Las Vegas. Sam didn’t miraculously recover from her kidnapping ordeal in one episode. In fact, she’s been struggling the last three episodes. Yay! My only complaint with Las Vegas in the past is that the fun-filled romp fest is infamous for introducing great storylines and dropping them too quickly. (Danny’s war trauma, Sam and Casey’s love story, Nessa’s relocation.) The show has a different feel this year, and it seems to be leaning toward longer story arcs. It still has the outrageous plots, the humor, the slick set and stellar cast, and now it seems a little more conversation to go along with all that action.

Grey’s Anatomy
I want to hug Lexie Grey. When she begged Bailey to not make her work with Meredith because she hates Lexie for something that isn’t her fault, she won me over. As for this George/Izzie/Callie relationship, not so much. Callie needs to kick that cheater to the curb and regain her mojo. Let deer-resuscitating Izzie have him. Callie can do better. I hear MsSteamy’s single again.

Private Practice
I’ve never tried so hard in my life to love a show. (Well, OK, Gossip Girl is an effort, too.) But week after week, Private Practice disappoints me. Yet, I keep hanging on because I know the greatness that is Shonda Rhimes, and my love for Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald and Taye Diggs knows no bounds. I think I’ve pinpointed my problem. The show setting is silly. (Ducking for cover.) A wellness clinic may work for massage, therapy and alternative medicine, but if your children were turning blue, what parent wouldn’t rush them to an emergency room? If these doctors worked in a hospital, perhaps they’d be more believable and credible. The fact that they sit around all day eating cake, playing pranks and eyeing one another undermines their professionalism. On Grey’s Anatomy, at least they always redeem their childish antics by performing some miraculous medical miracle. Maybe next week will be better.

Chuck
Here’s just one of the reasons I’m enjoying Chuck. The writers are obviously fans of Lost. What else could explain one of Chuck’s government-downloaded secrets including the fact that Oceanic Flight 815 was shot down? (That’s a nod to the plane that crashed on Lost.) Brilliant!

Losing steam
I loved the pilot episodes of Reaper and Moonlight, but I’m quickly losing interest. Moonlight hasn’t grabbed me the way Buffy and Angel did, and Reaper seems to be lacking that Kevin Smith polish that made the pilot shine. Heroes is also waning for me. I’ll just say it. There are too many heroes. Watching this show is like having ADD. We get a two-minute clip of one story, and then it’s on to the next.

Do you agree or disagree with Tube Talk Girl's comments? Leave some of your own and tell us what you thought of this week's TV.

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Gossip Girl gets full season; see how other new shows are doing

The CW’s Gossip Girl is the first show to get a full season pick up. I’ll give you a moment to digest the news. The show is averaging 3 million viewers and is the second highest-rated show among teens on Wednesday nights.

Frankly, I’m stunned that Gossip Girl is doing that well. I’ve been tuning in to Gossip Girl simply for a Kristen Bell fix, but watching the entire hour is becoming more difficult. Even Bell’s lovely narration isn’t holding my interest. I guess I find it unsettling that a teen show of this caliber is doing better in the ratings than Veronica Mars did, the uber-intelligent show in which Bell had the starring role. Then again, I’m not a teenage girl, so perhaps that explains my lack of love for Gossip Girl.


NBC has ordered additional scripts for Chuck, Life, Bionic Woman and Journeyman. That doesn’t mean they’ve been given full season orders, but they’re pulling enough viewers for the network to order more scripts. Of NBC’s new shows, Bionic Woman is performing the best in the ratings.

Just because a network orders more scripts, doesn’t mean a show will get renewed. (ABC ordered more scripts for The Nine last year, and we all know how that turned out.)

CBS has ordered additional scripts for Cane. The show gave CBS its best ratings debut for a new show since Judging Amy in 1999, according to the network. The CW has ordered additional scripts for Aliens in America, but it has not received a full season order yet, either. (Help them, Allah.)

If you’re wondering how Pushing Daisies and Private Practice are doing, well, so far so good. Both shows scored good ratings. They are among the top three highest rated new shows for the fall. (Bionic Woman is the other.)

Cavemen and Carpoolers both dropped 20 percent of their viewers since the debuts. That’s good news. I was starting to worry that TV viewers would watch anything, no matter how awful.

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Reviews: Private Practice, Moonlight, and Chuck

Private Practice
Premiere date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Airs: Wednesday s @ 9 p.m. ET on ABC

Confession: I’ve loved Addison Montgomery since she marched her stiletto-clad legs up to Meredith Grey and informed her she was sleeping with her husband. Apparently, I’m not the only one who was rooting for Team Addison; ABC gave the woman her own spinoff. The good news is that Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes is behind this new show. The bad news is that the pilot is mediocre, at best. Sure, expectations are high, and they should be, with Rhimes on board and the superstar cast. The majority of the actors - Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman - have headlined their own shows. But for some reason, I didn’t get that warm, fuzzy feeling that glues me to the TV screen when a show is working on all levels, and I’m not sure why. Kate Walsh and Daly have enough chemistry to power their own hospital, and Diggs is fun, flawed and charming. But Addison seems to have been dumbed-down in this new role, acting like a silly schoolgirl, at times, instead of the take-charge surgeon we’ve come to know. Most of the characters are interesting, with the exception of Brenneman’s. Her storyline had me reaching for the fast forward button. I’ve learned never to write off a show because the first episode doesn’t wow you. (Hello, Friday Night Lights!) And I’m not writing off Private Practice, as some critics have done already. I think it has potential. The problem Grey’s fans may have is the gaping hole Addison is leaving at Seattle Grace. On Thursday, ABC aired an “Addison” special that recapped her time on Grey’s. I’m sure the idea was to get fans to follow her to the new show. The problem is that the recap made me realize how much I’m going to miss her interaction with Miranda, Derek, and the gang. My apologies to Meredith fans, but the Addison/Derek/Mark triangle was one of the best ever on primetime. Period. Addison had mega chemistry with both McDreamy and McSteamy. If you’re questioning whether to invest in Private Practice, after all the mixed reviews you’ve read, I say give it a try. It may find its groove yet. If not, I hope Addison will come home to Seattle Grace and bring Daly’s Dr. Pete Wilder with her.


Moonlight
Premiere date: Friday, September 28, 2007
Airs: Fridays @ 9 p.m. ET on CBS

Within the first minutes of Moonlight, vampire Mick St. John humorously dispelled all the things I thought I knew about TV vampires from years of watching Buffy and Angel. (Vampires can’t be killed with a stake, he claims. Hmmm…I guess Buffy never got the memo.) From the moment Moonlight began with its interview with a vampire, I was hooked. Alex O’Loughlin is funny and charming. He plays his vampire character with just enough bite to leave viewers wanting more. I was surprised at how strong the storyline was, including a fantastic twist at the end. Veronica Mars fans will be delighted to see Jason Dohring in his role as Josef, Mick’s friend and fellow vampire. Josef is wealthy, tough, and, lucky for us, mischievous. If you like fantasy shows or were ever a fan of Buffy and Angel, don’t miss Moonlight. For everyone else, you should tune in, too. You never know when you’ll need Mick St.John’s tips on how to kill a vampire.

Chuck
Premiere date: Monday, September 24, 2007
Airs: Mondays @ 8 p.m. ET on NBC

I love geeks, and Chuck Bartowski is this year’s Seth Cohen. He’s a computer genius who works at Nerd Herd (NBC’s hilarious version of Geek Squad.) He’s witty, as evidenced by his explanation of his career goals: ““Working on a five-year plan. I just need to choose a font.” Chuck is hard to categorize into one specific TV genre. If I had to label it, I’d call it an action-adventure dramedy. Other critics have called it a comedy, but I save that label for true sitcoms. Chuck’s problems begin when he receives an e-mail from his old college roommate, who is a spy. The e-mail has subliminal government secrets in it that are downloaded to Chuck’s already super-powered brain. He soon becomes a target and must work with the government to stop the world’s evildoers. Zachary Levi is so good in this role he may become this season’s breakout star. Even Summer Roberts can’t resist him. (That’s actress Rachel Bilson, formerly of The O.C., for you non O.C. watchers.) Seth Cohen’s old flame is scheduled to guest star on Chuck this season. The supporting cast is excellent, too, including fanboy fave Adam Baldwin. The show runner behind Chuck is TV genius Josh Schwartz, who gave us The O.C. So, I think you know what that means. Set your DVR season pass.

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Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, yay or nay?

by Jennifer Squires Biller

After watching the two-hour Grey’s Anatomy episode, destined to become a spinoff for Addison, I’m a little concerned.

Here’s why. The show seemed adolescent in many ways, beginning with the fart joke and Addison’s silly behavior in the elevator. Then, the ladies lined up to watch the cute surfer receptionist strut through the hallway shirtless on his way to the beach. It was like that Diet Coke commercial from years ago. I expected more from the sophisticated writing palette of the Grey’s Anatomy team.

The plus to the new show is the casting. Tim Daly and Taye Diggs were outstanding. And Daly and Kate Walsh have enough chemistry to set that ocean-side community on fire. The cast, on a whole, was solid, but the problem was, I just didn’t care about most of them and their problems. Naomi seemed cold, internet-trolling doctor seemed nutty, and the shrink didn’t pull me in either. Hence, I can’t even remember their names.

It all comes down to Addison. She has always seemed like an outsider at Grey’s Anatomy, so it makes sense that she would be destined for a different place. But, I don’t want her to go, if it means changing her character. And for those two hours last week, it seemed they had.

Addison isn’t a silly girl, yet she was acting like a juiced-up Ally McBeal. Addison is a tough, take-charge gal, who sometimes makes poor choices. Alex was a poor choice, in my opinion. I hate that she went there. She was better than that. The Addison I first met would never have messed around with an intern, especially with McSteamy in the mix and McDreamy’s relationship hitting troubled waters.

I hate for Addison to leave Seattle, as I think she has plenty of story to tell there with Mark, Derek, Miranda and the gang. But, it seems she will be moving on when ABC picks up this new show. And yes, I will follow her. I love her that much.

First impressions of TV shows are sometimes wrong, so I’m not saying I won’t watch. I didn’t love Friday Night Lights or The Office pilots, but those two shows are now must-see-TV for me. It’s possible that Addison and the new Private Practice doctors will hook me yet.

What are your thoughts on the new Grey’s spinoff? Did you love it or hate it?

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The Grey’s Anatomy spinoff gets a name and a premiere date

Photo: ABC

The Grey’s Anatomy spinoff featuring Kate Walsh has a name, according to Buddy TV.

Private Practice is the moniker the network chose for the Addison-centered drama, the Web site reported Thursday. ABC released the name of the spinoff during a media-buyers event but cautioned that the name may change.

Let’s hope that’s true. The title seems a little, um, ordinary for my beloved Addison.

“The spinoff is being touted for its stand-alone premise that will take Walsh's character out of the realm of nightmarish medical emergencies and incorporated hospital trysts into a setting they think less hardcore medical drama fans will appreciate," according to Buddy TV.

Hmm…less gore and bed hopping. OK. I’m not sure why ABC would abandon the magical formula that lands them about 20 million viewers weekly, but hey, I don’t run the network.

I trust show-creator Shonda Rhimes. If she sent Addison to Mars to practice medicine, I’d watch.

The two-hour episode of the new series will debut May 10, according to Buddy TV.

The new series has an impressive cast that includes Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Paul Adelstein, Merrin Dungey and Chris Lowell.

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Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff Gets Bigger

Addison Montgomery is going to be in good company in the upcoming Grey’s Anatomy spinoff.

Actress Amy Brenneman, of Judging Amy fame, is joining the show, according to TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello. And she isn’t the only female coming to the party.

Merrin Dungey is also set to join to the Addison-centered drama, starring Kate Walsh, according to Maureen Ryan at The Chicago Tribune. TV fans will recognize Dungey for her roles in Summerland and Alias.

The Grey’s spinoff has been the talk of the TV world the past two weeks, as Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Chris Lowell and Paul Adelstein have already joined the cast.

ABC is introducing the spinoff as a two-hour episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

No word yet on if McSteamy (Eric Dane) will follow Addison and her stilettos out of Seattle Grace.

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Grey’s Anatomy spin-off to star Taye Diggs

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Taye Diggs is on board to co-star in a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff with Kate Walsh (Addison Montgomery.)

Yesterday, I scolded ABC for even considering spinning off my beloved Addison into her own show. I want to see her jockeying for the chief-of-surgery position, grappling with her feelings for Derek and Mark, and bonding with Miranda at Joe’s Bar. I’m not usually a fan of a spin-off, (Hello, Joey.) Why mess with a good thing?

That said, now that Diggs is reportedly attached to the project, I’m in. My devotion for Diggs has no limits, as evidenced by the fact that I watched every single episode of Kevin Hill.

I’m still miffed that Addison will have to leave Seattle Grace, if the spin-off is actually picked up. It won’t seem right without her, and her designer stilettos, roaming the halls. But if she’ll be sharing a stethoscope with Diggs on the new show, and the writing is as good as Grey’s, I suppose I’ll have to tune in.

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Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff?

ABC is toying with the idea of a Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, featuring Kate Walsh, (Addison Montgomery (formerly Shepherd.)) The two-hour pilot would debut in May, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Longtime Tube Talk readers know that I loved Addison from the moment she stepped foot into Seattle Grace. But, I don’t want her to leave McDreamy, McSteamy and the rest of the gang. Yes, she’s seemed adrift lately. But isolating her into another show is simply unfair.

I’m sure this is ABC’s way of capitalizing on the popularity of the lovely Ms. Walsh. But, frankly, if they want to spin-off a character, how about Dr. Burke? He could leave the hospital, and I wouldn’t be reaching for the Xanax.

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